PREP FOOTBALL 2014: Jersey Panthers

JERSEYVILLE - Jake Varble made his mark last season catching passes for the Jersey Panthers. The 6-foot-4 receiver caught enough of them to earn All-State recognition.

This season, he’ll get a chance to do the same - but he’ll be throwing the passes instead of catching them.

Varble will switch to quarterback and Panthers coach Dave Jacobs said he’s got plenty of confidence in the senior.

“He’s got all the intangibles,” Jacobs said of Varble. “He’s very smart, very tough. He knows where to go with the ball - and he’s capable of running it. he could be one of the best we’ve had at that position.”

That says a lot, considering that one recent former Jersey quarterback - Mitch Kimble - is now quarterbacking at Syracuse University.

“(Varble) and Billy Ritchie were competing for the quarterback position last year and I decided that having Varble at receiver was the best way to get both of them on the field at the same time.”

The Panthers will start their season at home against Granite City Friday. Last season, Jersey went 6-4 and made it to the IHSA Class 5A playoffs, where they lost a first-round game to Bartonville Limestone.

“We’ll be ready for the first game,” Jacobs said. “Right now, we’re focused on us, though.

“This is my fourth year here and that means the seniors now have been with us the whole time here,” Jacobs said. “Varble, Kimble and Shively saw action as freshmen.

“We’ve got good experience coming back,” he said. “We have a good group of kids.”

Ritchie has graduated and is now at Missouri Baptist University. And Varble will be under center with a team that will feature a new offensive line. Graduation hit the Panthers hardest at that position.

“Our O Line will look like this: Nick Howell, Richard Branham, Rico Garcia, A.J. Staples and Corey Richardson,” Jacobs said. “The attitude’s been great and we think these guys can do a great job.”

At running back, the Panthers will feature senior Whitey Kennedy, who saw action mostly on defense last season, and sophomore Brandon Baalman.

“Whitey is a water bug,’ Jacobs said. “He’s tough and quick. Baalman is very smart and runs well with power and speed.”

Crick Kimble, Luke Shively and Parker Blackorsby will have the job of catching Varble’s passes.

“(Kimble) is 6-2, 200 and is a tough matchup,” Jacobs said. “Shively and Blackorsby will see action at tight end for us.”

Also in that receiver mix will be freshman Blake Wittman. “I don’t usually bring freshman up so fast,” Jacobs said, “But (Wittman) has all the tools and has the potential to be a great one.”

On defense, the Panthers will rotate players often enough to stay fresh - and focused.

“We’ll play a lot of guys on defense,” Jacobs said. “It keeps them fresh and competitive and keeps them going as hard as they can. We want to be able to attack hard on every play.”

Among those slated to see action in that defensive scheme are Isaac Rowling, Jonah Baalman, Will Mortland, Varble, Ethan Ward, Mitch Goetten, Staples, Howell and Branham.

Jacobs said the Mississippi Valley Conference race is a tossup.

“You start with Highland, of course, because they were so dominant last year,” he said. “But I think all six teams have a chance for the playoffs. I think it will be great year for the Valley.

“I want our team to be known as relentless - a team that attacks in all phases of the game,” he said. “That’s what we preach. we’re not big, but we’ll rely on effort and technique.”